Lock



Sept. I8, 1928.

F. O. BRUNELLE LOCK Filed NOV. 15. 1926 INVENTOR Han/c @.Bune/Ze ATTORNE Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES instala FRANK O. BRUNELL, F MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

LOCK.

Application filed Novembcrl', 1926. v Serial No. 148,207.

This invention relates to locks, and more particularly to combination locks especially adapted for use on doors, safes, automobile ignition systems, etc.

One object ot this invention is to provide a combination lock which cannot be operated unless the combina-tion is known, and whichk will be automatically re-locked when the unlocking tumblers are released.

A further object is topi-Ovide alock ot the above nature in which the combination may be readily changed whenever desired.

A further object is to provide a lock of this nature, which will. be relatively simple in construction, easy tov manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, a Jl very etiicient and durable in use.

V7 ith these and other objects in view there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawings one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of such a lock.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view ot' the same.

Fig. 3 is an end View of the lock.

Fig. 4 is a front view ot the lock with certain parts broken away and showing its appearanee when the cover of the casing is open;

Fig. 5 is al side view of two of the tumbler elements employed in the lock mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral indicates a casing, preferably rectangular in general outline and having a flanged top plate 11.

The interior ot the casing isl dividedinto two compartments by a partition 12 having a plurality ot circular apertures 13 on the side toward the flanged top plate 11. The rear tace ot thepartition is provided with a. plurality ot keyhole shaped recesses 14, the circular kparts ot' which are in alinement and concentric with the circular apertures 13, said recesses being preferably arranged in two parallel rows at the top and bottom o1" the partition.

in order to permit the lock to be operated, the flanged top Aplate 11 is provided with two rows of apertures 15 correspondingto and in alinement with the apertures 13 in the partition, and being adapted to receive a plurality of operating keys or push buttons 16 extending outwardly through said iianged top plate 11. The rear ot the buttons 16 are provided with ilangcs 17 underlying the plate 11, said buttons having a plurality of reduced pins 13 extending rearwardly through the circular apertures 13. The pins 18 are surrounded by spiral springs 19 which serve to normally press the buttons 16 outwardly at alljtin'ies.

A slidingl locking plate 20 is mounted in the casing in Contact with the rear tace ot the partition 12, and'said plate 20 is provided with two rows of rearwardly extending sleeves 21. The sleeves 21 correspond to and are adapted to aline `with the ci rcular holes 13 in the partition 12 when the sliding plate 2G is in locked position. The sliding` plate 20 provided at one end with a locking bolt 24 ot' usual standard construction and adapted to engage a. keeper as on a door.

Between the two rows ot sleevesv 21, provision is made et a pair of parallel spaced ribs 22, said ribs having slots 23 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

ln order to slide the locking plate back and `forth across the partition 12, provision is made ot an operating spindle 25 having one Vend extending 'forwardly through the top plate 11 and lterminating into a knurled hand knob 26. The other end of the spindle 25 .is journaled in the partition 12 and eX- tends rearwardly for a short through the sliding plate 20. Y i

In order to cause the plate 2O to slide back and torth'when the knob 26 is rotated, the proj ecting end ot the spindle 25 has a forked member 27 rigidly secured tliereon, as "by means or" a screw 28,"and said 'forked mein ber is provided with av pair ot parallel arms 29 and 30 slidably fitted' about va pin 31'rigidly secured on thej sliding plate 20. Slidably mounted within the sleeves 2l are a. plurality vof active tumbler members 32 and idle tumblers 33, the former being of di stance somewhat different construction from the rods 35 fitting within the sleeves 21, but the` rods^35 arefshorterin length than the rods 34'01"" the 'tumblers 32, said. short rods terminatingv in short reduced sections or pins 36,'as clearly shown inlig. 5.

:By means of this construction, it will be seenl that the active tumbleis 32 will serveV to lock the sliding plate 2O together with its locking bolt 24C against withdrawal whenever the tumblers 32 are positioned within the cir cular recesses 14 or at the left, as viewed in Fig. 2.

It will also be noticed that the idle tumblers by reason of their reduced ends or pins 3G can at no time serve any locking func* tion, as the pins 36 are capable of sliding out oi? the circular portions and into the narrow side slots of the keyhole rescesses V14 at all times. Y

Both sets of tulnblers 32 and 33 are provided on one A side of the central rods 34 and 35 withdownwardly and upwardly extending webs 37, said webs 37 being curved at Ttheir upper edgesto engage with a'pair of wing plates 3S pivoted at139 and40 respec tively within a cover 41 hinged to the casing 10 at the rear of the lock.

` the tumbler' members in proper position paralv lel to each other. Allof the active tumblers Ill 32 are'arranged with their webs 37 above the the webs 42, while the idle tumblers 33 are arranged with the webs37 below the webs 42. The web 37 of one ofthe tumblers 32, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, is provided with an aperture 43 for connection to one end of a spiral spring 44, the other end of said spring being adapte-d to continuously press against the upper part of the lower wing plate 38. y

In operation, when it is desired to unlock the .door or other device upon which the lock has beeninstalleththe person' knowing the combination will push in the particular buttous 16 corresponding to the activel tumblers 32, and those buttons only. This operation will move the active tumblers 32 out of lock# ingiengagement with the key-hole recesses or" the vpartition 12, and while holding the particular button 16 corresponding to the spring-pressed tumbler 32 against the tension of the spring 44, it will be easy Vfor the operator to withdraw the bolt by turning the upper half of lsaid wing member will then engage the webs 37 of all the active tumbler-s 32 of said upper row which are in unlocked position and push said tumblers back into locked position.

It will be understood that during the unlocking operation, it will be necessary to hold the button 16 corresponding to the springpressed tumbler 32inwardly, as otherwise the spring 44 wouldpush said tumbler back into its locking recess and prevent withdrawal of the bolt 24 when the hand knob 26 is operated.

W'hen it is desired to again lock the meehalocked position, thereby securing the. bolt against withdrawal.

In order to more completely safeguard the combination lock, the operator Vshould then push in one button of each of the upper and lower sets corresponding to the idle turnblers The webs 37 will thenfmove the wingA plates 38 about their pivots and force the rods 34 of all ofthe active tumblers 32 into their locking recesses.

It will be understood that the combination or' this lock may be readily changed whenever desired merely by rearranging the positions oit the active and idle tumblers in the locking plate. i Y

It will also be understood that the spring 44 is used merely to provide an additional safeguard and may be omitted ifdesired. While there has been disclosed in this speciiication one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is tobe understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is.not to be limited to the specific disclosure but may be modified and embodied in` various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the `invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of tliefollowing claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what 1s claimed as new, and for. which it is.

desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a combination lock, a casing, a lock` ing plate slidable in said casing, said plate having a locking bolt for engaging a keeper, said plate. carryinga spring-pressed slidable tumbler', said tumbler being normally in locking engagement withsaidcasing, a slidable lili IIS'

button on said casing for engaglng said tumbler and forcing it out of locking engagement with said casing, and means for sliding said plate thereafter to withdraw said bolt from its keeper while holding the said tumbler in unlocked position.

2. In a combination. lock, a'casing, al locking plate'slidable in saidcasing, said plate having a locking bolt for engaging a kee er, said plate carrying an active slidable tum ler which is normally in locking engagement with said casing, Said plate` also carrying an idle slidable tumblerwhich is always free from engagement with said casing, means for dis-` engaging said active tumbler from said casing to permit said plate to be moved to unlocked position, and means adapted to be engaged by said idle tumbler for forcing said active tun'ibler back into locked position, said tumblers being movable With said plate when in unlocked position. Y

3. In a combination lock7 av casing, a locking plate slidable in said easing, said plate having a locking bolt for engaging a keeper, said plate carrying an active slidable tumbler which is normally in locking engagement with a partition on said casing, said plate also carrying an idle slidable tumbler which is always rce from engagement with said casing, means for disengaging said active tumbler from said casing to permit said plate vto ,be moved to unlocked position, and means adapted vto be engaged by said idle tumbler lor orcing said active tumbler back into locked position, said tumblers being'movable with said plate when in unlocked position.

a. In a combination lock, a casing, a locking plate slidable in said casing, said plate having a locking bolt for engaging a keeper, said plate carrying an active slidable tumbler which is normally in locking engagement with a partition on said casing, said plate also carrying an idle slidable tumbler which is always free from engagement with said casing7 means for disengaging said active tumbler from said easing to permit said plate to be moved to unlocked position, and means adapted to be engaged by said idle tumbler for forcing said active tumbler back into locked position, said partition having a keyhole recess in alinement With said idle tumbler for engaging said active tumbler When in locked position, said idle tumbler having a reduced end which is adapted to slide into the side4 slot of said key-hole recess when the locking plate moved.

5. In a combination lock, a casing, a locking plate slidable in said casing7 said plate having a locking bolt for engaginei a keeper, said plate carrying a plurality of active sliding tumblers normally in locking engagement with said casing, said plate also carrying a plurality oi' idle sliding tumblers always out of engagement with said casing,

plurality of idle sliding tumblers always out e means for ot engagement with said casing,

disengagingsaid active tumblers from said casing, andy a wing plate operated' by the actuation oit one of said idle tumblers forreengaging all of said active tumblers with said casing.

7. ln a combination lock7 a casing, a locking plate slidable in said casing, said plate having a locking bolt for engaging a keeper, said plate cz'rrrying a plurality ot active sliding tumblers normally in locking engagement with said casing, said plate also carrying a plurality oi idle sliding tumblers, and springpressed means for automatically returning all of said active `tumblers into engagement with said easing when said active tumblers are released, said tumblers being movable with said plate when in unlocked position.

` 8. ln a combination lock, a casing, a locking plate slidable in said easing, said plate liaving a locking bolt for engaging a keeper,

said plate carrying a plurality ot active sliding tumblers normally in locking engagementvith said casing, said plate also carrying a plurality ot idle sliding tumblers Which are Yl'ree from engagement With said casing at all times, and means for causing said active tumblers to be moved to locked position when any one of said idle tumblers is operated, said tumblers being movable with said plate when in unlocked position.

In testimony whereof, l have affixed my signature to this specification.

FRANK O. BRUNELLE. 

